Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Defense News ~ OWEGO, N.Y., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has formally delivered the 50th MH-60R helicopter, fully equipped for its mission to protect the U.S. Navy fleet from hostile submarines and surface ships.The newest member of the SEAHAWKÂ® family of maritime helicopters is designed and manufactured by Sikorsky, with advanced mission systems integration by Lockheed Martin. "I am extremely proud of the MH-60R team, which has enabled this important milestone in the Romeo's continued introduction to the fleet," said Rear Adm. Steve Eastburg, Program Executive Officer Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission programs. "The enormous multimission capability of this platform continues to be leveraged by the warfighter in new and innovative ways. It is truly a game-changing platform that will deliver powerful capabilities, ranging from low-end to high-end warfare, in the years ahead."During the February 3 delivery ceremony at Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems & Sensors facility in Owego, NY, Rear Adm. Paul Grosklags, vice commander, Naval Air Systems Command thanked Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky employees and other key suppliers for their contributions to this important program."The MH-60R has evolved over 30 years, through lessons learned during developmental testing, fleet deployments and maintenance on these rugged airframes and mission systems, in the harshest maritime environments," said Grosklags. "It stands now as the premier multimission helicopter in operation today. The U.S. Navy is grateful for the tremendous teamwork and experience you bring to deliver this remarkable weapon system."This week, an aircrew from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Zero (HSM-70) will fly the 50th aircraft from the Owego, NY, facility to its new home at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla. The aircraft is the 10th MH-60R delivered to HSM-70, which was established in February 2009.HSM-70 will deploy with 11 MH-60R aircraft aboard the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group (CVN 77) in 2011. To date, the U.S. Navy has established and equipped four MH-60R squadrons, with plans to fill out 16 more through the purchase of 300 aircraft."The 50th delivery is a great opportunity to reflect on the success of the MH-60R within the fleet, to look forward to the expansion of the MH-60R throughout the helicopter community and to recognize the organizations that have brought this tremendous capability to the Navy," said Captain Dean Peters, the U.S. Navy's MH-60 program manager. "Today, these highly integrated platforms are building a situational awareness picture of the surface and undersea domains that is proving invaluable to fleet operators."As mission systems integrator for the Sikorsky-built MH-60R, Lockheed Martin is responsible for integrating the helicopter's digital cockpit, a multi-mode radar, acoustic sonar suite, long-range infrared camera and other advanced sensors to detect, identify, track and engage surface and subsurface targets. Lockheed Martin also integrates a self defense system to protect the aircraft from missile threats."The highly integrated nature of the Common Cockpitâ¢ avionics suite and the mission systems allows the aircrew to spend less time interpreting data and more time prosecuting the target," said George Barton, Lockheed Martin's director of Naval Helicopter Programs.U.S. Navy test squadrons concluded 1900 hours of rigorous MH-60R flight and mission systems evaluations in 2005. Since full rate production began in early 2006, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky have delivered all MH-60R aircraft to the U.S. Navy ahead of schedule.The companies expect to deliver up to 27 fully-missionized MH-60R aircraft in calendar year 2010 to the U.S. Navy as part of a five-year contract for 139 MH-60R aircraft through 2013. Extra production capacity exists to deliver an additional 20 aircraft each year for sale by the U.S. Government to international navies.The U.S. Navy deployed with 11 MH-60R aircraft for the first time from January to July 2009 with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) carrier strike group. During exercises in the western Pacific, the MH-60R proved to be an exceptional sub hunter and surface warfare weapons platform, accomplishing a 95 percent sortie completion rate, and showing it can perform utility and search and rescue missions among other secondary missions.Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.For additional information, visit our web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com

Defense News ~ BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has successfully completed stray light testing of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) telescope assembly for NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission.(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100209/LA51698)The first of its kind stray light test was conducted at Ball's new Stray Light Test Facility (SLTF) in Boulder, Colorado. Â The OLI instrument will provide 15-meter (49ft.) panchromatic and 30m multi-spectral earth-imaging spatial-resolution capability for the eighth mission in the Landsat satellite series. Control of stray light is critical to the quality of the OLI data product, requiring a level of testing no other earth remote sensing instrument of this caliber has undergone. The test included Point Source Rejection Ratio scans obtained over a wide range of angles and for four telescope configurations: open earth-view port, open and closed solar cal port and aperture shutter closed. Â Demonstrating sensitivity over 10 orders of magnitude, the quality and repeatability of the data proved that the OLI telescope has excellent margin on all on-orbit stray light requirements.Ball's new SLTF is a Class 5 clean room designed to eliminate undesired sources of background light and to emphasize superior contamination control of the test environment. The double cylindrical chamber reflects the specular light away from the instrument under test. As the facility interior is nearly all black, illumination sources can be either a solar simulator or discrete laser wavelengths collimated into an 18-inch diameter beam. Â The facility is designed to test a wide variety of instruments up to approximately 2 meters per side and weighing up to 1,100 pounds over a wide range of elevation and azimuth angles."The universal value of the Landsat program is inestimable," said David L. Taylor, president and CEO of Ball Aerospace. "Testing of OLI in Ball's stray light facility brings us closer to delivering an instrument that will continue NASA's longest continuous imagery data record of our planet."The Landsat program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. For more than 36 years, Landsat satellites have continuously and consistently collected images of Earth, creating a historical archive unmatched in quality, detail, coverage and length. The Ball Aerospace OLI instrument, slated to launch in late 2012, includes a 185km swath allowing the entire globe to be imaged every 16 days. Â The multispectral imagery is gathered for applications that include agricultural monitoring, natural resource management, land-use planning and climate science. ÂBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions of important national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications. For more information visit http://www.ballaerospace.com/.Ball Corporation (BLL: NYSE) is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2009 sales of approximately $7.3 billion.Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at http://www.sec.gov/. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates or tax rates. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the current global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including in respect of climate change, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

Defense News ~ SPRINGFIELD, Va.-- February 9, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--Versar, Inc. (NYSE Amex:VSR) announced today the award of a $13 million subcontract from URS Corporation (NYSE: URS - News) through its EG&G Defense Materials subsidiary for Chemical Munitions Destruction using the first-of-a-kind DAVINCH system (Detonation in a Vacuum Assisted Chamber). Versar teamed with Kobe Steel, LTD of Japan, the developer of DAVINCH for this award, which has an initial 13 month period of performance.Versar will provide project management at the Deseret Chemical Depot, near Tooele, Utah for this contract. This is the first implementation of the DAVINCH proprietary technology in the United States. The DAVINCH technology will be used to destroy munitions that have certain characteristics that make them extremely difficult to process using traditional methods, such as incineration.Dr. Ted Prociv, President and CEO of Versar, Inc., said, “The DAVINCH technology represents a major step toward the safe and efficient destruction of a wide variety of chemical and conventional munitions across the globe. We look forward to successfully implementing this program, and continuing our strong relationships with Kobe Steel, LTD and our prime contractor, EG&G Defense Materials.”VERSAR, INC., headquartered in Springfield, VA, is a publicly held international professional services firm supporting government and industry in national defense/homeland defense programs, environmental health and safety and infrastructure revitalization. VERSAR operates a number of web sites, including the corporate Web sites, http://www.versar.com, http://www.homelanddefense.com, http://www.geomet.com; http://www.viap.com; http://www.dtaps.com;

This press release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties described herein and in Versar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended June 26, 2009. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Versar does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Defense News ~ DUBLIN--February 9, 2010, 10:00 am EST (BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e8461e/military_robots_an) has announced the addition of WinterGreen Research, Inc.'s new report "Military Robots and Unmanned Vehicles Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2010 to 2016" to their offering.This new 2010 study on Military Ground Robots and unmanned vehicles has 513 pages, 190 tables and figures. Worldwide markets are poised to achieve significant growth as the military ground robots and unmanned vehicles are used globally. Growth comes as the nature of combat changes in every region while the globally integrated enterprise replaces nationalistic dominance.Military robot automation of the defense process is the next wave of military evolution. As automated systems and networking complement the Internet, communication is facilitated on a global basis. The military charter is shifting to providing protection against terrorists and people seek to maintain a safe, mobile, independent lifestyle. Much of the military mission is moving to adopt a police force training mission, seeking to achieve protection of civilian populations on a worldwide basis.According to Susan Eustis, the lead author of the study, the purchase of Military Robots is dependent on budget constraints. The use of Military Robots is based on providing a robot that is less expensive to put in the field than a trained soldier. That automation of process has appeal to those who run the military.Robots are automating military ground systems, permitting vital protection of soldiers and people in the field, creating the possibility of reduced fatalities. Mobile robotics operate independently of the operator. The innovation coming from all the vendors is astounding. No one innovation is more significant than another. One vendor, BAE Systems, has an ant-size robot useful for reconnaissance and networking robots in development. As soldiers take up secure positions behind a wall, they deploy a small reconnaissance team. The initial deployment is poised to be a very, very small reconnaissance team. Some hopping, some flying, the stealthy autonomous reconnaissance squad vanishes into a suspicious building for several minutes, then relays the all-clear back to its partners outside when that is the case.What is good for a robotic unmanned ground vehicle is also good for an ummanned vehicle. Multiple technological, logistical, political and market forces share a quantum singularity that has brought mobile robotics to the point where robots are useful to every arm of the military services. This is a phenomenon that will have a major impact on the way we run the military and police societies. Use of remote-control toys in Iraq started as improvised robots to check out possible roadside bombs. There has since been a flurry of activity on the robotic explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) front since that early beginning. Deliveries of smaller and cheaper Bots are anticipated.The emergence of a market for intelligent, mobile robots for use in the field and the confined areas of city fighting presents many opportunities. Units used in public spaces and on the battlefield create a better, more flexible, more cost efficient military.Technology is used to actuate the disparate robot types. Core robotics research and advances in robotic technology can be applied across a variety of robotic form factors and robotic functionality. Advances feed on and off of each other. With each new round of innovation, a type of technological cross pollination occurs that improves existing robotic platforms and opens up other avenues where intelligent mobile robots can be employed, effectively creating new markets.Roboticists are more advanced in their training and in the tools available to create units. Military robots have evolved from units used in the field to manage different situations that arise. Robots save lives..Defense security systems have an emphasis on casualty reduction during combat. This has resulted in investment in robotics technology that is useful. Robotic research is on the fast track for government spending. Congress passed a law making it an Army goal that by 2015, one-third of the operational ground combat vehicles are unmanned. The US Navy and Marines have similar initiatives underway.Military ground robot market forecast analysis indicates that vendor strategy is to pursue developing new applications that leverage leading edge technology. Robot solutions are achieved by leveraging the ability to innovate, to bring products to market quickly. Military purchasing authorities seek to reduce costs through design and outsourcing. Vendor capabilities depend on the ability to commercialize the results of research in order to fund further research. Government funded research is evolving some more ground robot capability.Markets at $831 million in 2009 are anticipated to reach $9.7 billion by 2016.Key Topics Covered:1. Military Robots Market Description and Market Dynamics2. Military Ground Robot Market Shares and Forecasts3. Military Robots Product Description4. Military Robot Technology5. Military Robot Company Profiles6. Military Robot Contracts

Defense News ~ LENEXA, KS--(Marketwire - 02/09/10) - ICOP Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ:ICOP - News), an industry-leading company engaged in advancing digital surveillance technology solutions, today announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Developed Dimension Information Technology (DDIT), ICOP's partner in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to establish a joint venture company, to expand the delivery of Homeland Security solutions in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the Middle East.President Obama and King Abdullah have placed a high priority on joint ventures between companies in the United States and companies in Saudi Arabia, for greater economic cooperation, transfer of technology, and training as well as the development of new and lasting business ties.Under the terms of the joint venture, the two parent companies will establish a Saudi-based company that delivers world-class security products and services, with added emphasis on training and high-level local support. The joint venture's objective is to be the preeminent supplier of Homeland Security products and services to the flourishing security markets of the Middle East.DDIT is owned by Sheik Hamad Bin Mohammed Bin Saedan Group, a prominent business group in Saudi Arabia, who following eighty-five years in business, is one of the largest real estate and investment groups in Saudi Arabia, and their holdings extend to the UAE, Tunisia, Egypt, and Jordan.Sheik Hesham Saedan, managing director of DDIT, stated, "In light of the growing priority for security solutions, ICOP and DDIT see the need for expanding our relationship to integrate additional security products and services, and to leverage the strong brand we have established with ICOP and other security products, in Saudi Arabia and the Region. Through the joint venture with ICOP, we gain an experienced and respected management team, in addition to an ambitious growth plan to become the market-leading security company in the Region.""Saudi Arabia's fast-growing economy is creating opportunities for both exporters and investors, as it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Given the elevated priority that King Abdullah has placed on securing Saudi Arabia's citizens, borders, and critical infrastructure, we believe this is a unique opportunity in history, in helping to meet the security needs of this important market," stated David Owen, Chairman and CEO of ICOP. "Our relationship with DDIT over these past few years has been outstanding, and the growing security market of this Region gives us a sense of urgency to establish this joint venture."The transaction is subject to final documentation and regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction, which is projected to close by the end of the last quarter of 2010, were not disclosed, pending finalization through the authorities in Saudi Arabia.About ICOP Digital, Inc. ICOP Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ:ICOP - News) is a leading provider of in-car video and mobile video solutions for Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Military, and Transportation markets, worldwide. ICOP solutions help the public and private sectors mitigate risks, reduce losses, and improve security through the live streaming, capture and secure management of high quality video and audio. http://www.icop.com/Forward-Looking StatementsThis document contains forward-looking statements. You should not rely too heavily on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. The Company may experience significant fluctuations in future operating results due to a number of economic, competitive, and other factors, including, among other things, our reliance on third-party manufacturers and suppliers, government agency budgetary and political constraints, new or increased competition, changes in market demand, and the performance or reliability of our products. This, plus other uncertainties and factors described in our most-recent annual report and our most-recent prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could materially affect the Company and our operations. These documents are available electronically without charge athttp://www.sec.gov/.